It is said to be the best intro novel to enter Murakami's world and I totally agree. Murakami builds an amazing and intriguing world of humans that will pull you in and keep you there even after you have put the book down.

Kafka on the Shore has a lot of madness, yet has a lot of silence which is where Murakami wins at his craft. With over 600 pages, this book will make you wanting more of Kafka Tamura and amusing Nakata. The best part about Murakami's style of writing is that he gives you every minute detail about the character in everything the characters do which makes you feel that the you are in the story and not just reading one.

The story revolves around a lot of things and Murakami's style of abruptly introducing a new plot, a new character and a new world with every chapter is where my heart skips beat. You literally have no clue what is going to happen next. The reading experience leaves you in a state of trance where you stay for a long time even after finishing the book. Few lines like "You are going to be the world's toughest 15 year old" stick to your mind.


The plot has two major characters, Kafka who is a runaway teenage boy and Nakata who is living with a defect thanks to the war he was in years ago but still has some amazing things hidden in him (won't reveal else it will kill your buzz). Kafka is lost on streets of Japan, searching for the meaning of life and at the same time scared by the curse he thinks he has. Then there are supporting characters like Kafka's friend, his sister and a crazy Colonel Sanders who is dressed in KFC's uniform and is behind Kafka.

Not to forget the talking cats, fish & leeches raining from the sky, stones which are powerful and a certain Johnny Walker who is beyond just dangerous. And among st all of this, is a lost teenager Kafka who is trying to make sense of all the happenings just like the reader is.

It is weird and at the same time a very interesting read.
I don't want to reveal much in this review, go ahead and grab this one, you will fall in love with Murakami's world.

P.S: I am currently reading Murakami's "After Dark" and am already halfway through, it is amazing as well.

When Netflix India released the trailer of its most promising project of the year "Lust Stories", eye balls went crazy. The trailer created the required buzz and anticipation about this anthology which has huge names like Karan Johar and Zoya Akhtar attached to it. This review is a personal opinion, you migt end up loving the film, you never know!

Extra Maritial Affairs and more

As a viewer when you hear the title "Lust Stories" and also hear Radhika Apte's character say lines like " Pagal hai kya, main shaadi shuda hoon", you know that the movie is going to showcase a lot of infidility and probably an explanation for it. And the movie delivers on this aspect, its all about cheaters and lust plays an important part of game.

None of the story conclude logically

The problem with the movie is that it lacks a good story. None of the 4 stories showcased have a proper logical ending. All the 4 shorts seem like scenes clubbed together just because they have the same theme i.e lust.

 

Radhika Apte and Akash Thosar shine, story takes a backseat

The first lust story features Radhika Apte and Sairat fame Akash Thosar. It's a complicated lust story between a professor and a student which is beyond moral lines by all means. Anurag Kashyap's direction is bang on but the story lacks a proper climax, an irony for a lust story indeed. The scenes where Radhika Apte's character speaks to the audience directly on her thoughts about monogamy and the fact that her husband Mihir who stays out of India has approved of her flings seems forced at times. Akash Thosar's casting couldn't have been better, he fits perfetly for the role as his character is like that of a deer in headlights who has no clue what is going on and what is he supposed to do about it.

Bhoomi Pednekar's best performance till date, but the story fall flat 

The second story belongs to Zoya Akhtar and ends up showcasing a personality triat of Neil Bhopalan's character. The entire story plays delightfully well with amazing performances by Neil and Bhumi Pednekar who plays a maid in love and lust with the house owner. The problem again lies with the end, it says nothing and proves nothing. It is just like a scene is played and  characters are developed and they give out their views and thats about it.

Dibakar and Karan Johar's films are good looking 

The third and the fourth story are equally flat with no senseful ending.  Dibakar Banerjee's story features on number three and stars Manisha Koirala and Sanjay Kapoor as husband and wife and Sanjay Ahlawat as Sanjay's best friend and the guy whom his wife is having an affair with. Karan Johar's story stars Neha Dhupia, Kiara Advani and Vicky Kaushal and is probably the most entertaining and senseful one out of the lot.

All in all, Netflix's Lust Stories is a one time watch purely for the amazing performances.

When one thinks of Varun Dhawan, one does not think of a very serious actor because 99% of his movies have been romcoms. But October is here to change and prove what Varun Dhawan as an actor is capable of doing.

October is simply emotional

October is a simple story which takes a sad twist with an unfortunate freak accident. The ones who love fast paced, edge of the seat drama should stay away from this one. If you love dissecting human emotions and diving deep into emotions then this movie is for you.

The movie is lined up with some really simple yet thought provoking dialogues. One of which is where Varun Dhawan's character Dan (Short for Danish) questions everyone's act of deciding for Shiuli if she should live or not and the hard fact that no one is ready to give her a chance to take that decision herself. The plot is simple but the relationship levels are such that it becomes an amusing story to follow.

Dan and Shiuli's emotional journey touches your heart

Dan who barely knows Shiuli and is detested by everyone for his bad work attitude becomes too disturbed with Shiuli's accident and her vegetative state. While everyone else's life moves on, Dan's life gets stuck with Shiuli. The flower in the movie poster is symbolic of Shiuli's character, she loves the Shiuli flower popularly known as Parijat. But the sad thing about these flowers is that they blossom at night and fall before the sun rises, thus having a short life span; just like Shiuli. Also the flower starts blooming in October and hence the name. Surprisingly there are some really good funny moments too which break the seriousness where it is needed.

Overall the movie has some very good scenes but because of the emotional journey the 2 hour movie feels like a 3 hour one. The lobby scene between Dan and Shiuli can make anyone cry.

Varun Dhawan's "October" stays with you 

The fact that you feel sad for Shiuli and Dan after walking out of the theater is a proof that the movie connects and wins. Even after a few days, whenever I see those flowers it still makes me a bit sad thinking about Shiuli and Dan, that is the power of emotions Shoojit Sircar has managed to touch. It is Varun's best performance till date.

Do watch it for Varun Dhawan's phenomenal acting and a script which based on nothing but emotions is rare to see in Bollywood. The movie will leave you sad but will also make you love more passionately! Some will love it, some will hate it, but whoever watches it will definitely not forget the characters.

Rating : 3.5 out of 5